Vehicle-step.



No. 637,|84. PatentedNov. l4, I899 J. n. THOMAS.

VEHICLE STEP.

(Application filed Aug. 29, 1899.)

No Model.)

witmwoelo J 6 s Q r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. THOMAS, OF KATONAH, NEW YORK.

VEHICLE-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,184, dated November14, 1899.

Application filed August 29, 1899.

To all whom it nuty concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN D. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Katonah, county of WVestchester, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Steps, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of acarriage. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is asimilar view showing a modification of the steps, and Fig. 4.- is a planview of a pair of the steps.

The invention has for its object to provide a pair of vehicle-stepswhich are adapted to be rigidly secured to the running-gear or to thevehicle-body and to be rigidly fastened to each other by a bar runningunder the body of the vehicle, whereby the body is provided with a rigidbrace, and all strains brought on either step will be taken up by thefastenin gs of both steps, thus rendering the undesirable independentbraces from each step to the carriage-body unnecessary.

Referring to the various parts by numerals, 1 designates thecarriage-body, which may be of any desired form, and 2 the longitudinalbars or sills thereof. Bolted rigidly to each of these sills atdiametrically opposite points is a depending outward-curving step ironor bracket 3, which carries at its outer lower end the step-piece 4. Theupper ends of the'stepirons are formed with the lateral flanges 5,through which the bolts pass which secure the step to the sills of thevehicle-body.

Extending inward from the inner edge of each of the step-irons, slightlybelow its upper end, is an arm 6, through the inner end of which areformed a series of horizontal boltholes. Securely bolted against thesides of these arms is a stiff bar 7. This stiff bar rigidly connectsthe two arms 6 and braces the steps against each other and causes anystrain placed directly on either step to be taken up by the fasteningsof both steps. This is of great advantage, especially in light vehicles,where the steps are fastened to the strongest part of the bodyth at is,the sills--and where it is undesirable to fasten independent braces toeach step-iron and to the thin bottom or other portion of the vehicle.Each step is rigidly braced to the other sill, and this is accomplishedwith only one set of fastening- Serial No. 728,877. (No model.)

bolts for each step. It will be noted that by utilizing the bolts whichsecure one step-iron to its sill to brace the step-iron secured to theopposite sill each set of bolts serves a double purpose. It will also benoted that securing the steps together in this manner aids in preventingany twisting of the vehicle-body when a great strain is brought oneither step.

By means of the series of holes in the inner ends of the arms 6 thesteps may be adjusted to vehicle-bodies of various width. Instead offorming the bar 7 separate and bolting it to arms 6 it may be formedintegral with the arms 3 and permanently connect them together.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A pair of vehicle-steps comprising a pair of step-irons adapted to bebolted to a portion of a vehicle, a rigid bar connecting said stepironsat their inner edges, and a step-piece carried by each step-iron.

2. A pair of vehicle-steps comprising a pair of step-irons adapted to bebolted to a portion of a vehicle, a rigid bar adj ustably connectingsaid step-irons, whereby the steps may be applied to vehicles of variouswidth, and a steppiece carried by each step-iron.

3. A pair of vehicle-steps comprising a pair of step-irons adapted to bebolted to a portion of a vehicle, an inward-extending arm formedintegral with each step-iron and provided with a series of bolt-holes,and a rigid bar adapted to be bolted to said inward-extending arms torigidly connect the step-irons together, and a step-piece carried byeach step-iron.

4. The combination of a vehicle having rigid longitudinal bars,step-irons bolted to said bars and extending downward and outward, astiff bar rigidly connecting said step-irons slightly below thevehicle-body, whereby a strain put on one step will be taken up by thefastening means of both steps and whereby the stiif bar will form astrong lateral brace for said longitudinal vehicle-bars, and a steppiecefor each step-iron.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in the presence oftwo witnesses, this 26th day of August, 1899.

JOHN D. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

J. H. WILLIAMS, WILLIAM G. BARRETT.

